Hebrews 4:13, “And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give and account.”
Reading through Hebrews 4 this morning I noticed a progression of thought from 4:11-16. In verse 11-2, the author supports his citation and application of Psalm 95:7-11 by reminding his readers that God’s word is “living and active,” that is to say, it is ever and always powerful and applicable and that it pierces to the core of its hearers.
From here he moves, in verse 13, to explain that the God whose word searches to our marrow is the same God before whom we must all stand, utterly exposed and without excuse, to give an account.
This ought to strike a holy fear in the hearts of his readers….and in verses 14-16, the author introduces the only hope we have to survive this final judgment, namely, the slain and risen Jesus Christ who is our “great high priest,” eternally interposing His person and work on His Bride’s behalf.
As with God’s word, so too God’s judgment will search us to the roots and leave nothing hidden…and yet, we need not fear damnation at this judgement if we are holding fast to Christ as our all. In fact, scripture implies that it will be Christ Himself who sits with authority to judge in that day (Romans 2:16; Matthew 25:31-32; John 5:22; 2 Corinthians 5:10) so that the only way to survive the piercing eyes of our Judge is to take refuge in His own pierced body and plead His own spilled blood.
